Catherine M. Havens, 67, loving wife of Charles McColgan, and a long time resident of West Granby, CT, died peacefully in hospice at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT on Friday, March 27, 2015. Born in Hartford to the late John J. Havens and Catherine (Dungan) Havens. Graduated from South Catholic High School, Saint Joseph College, UCONN School of Social Work (MSW) and UCONN School of Law (JD). Catherine was very devoted to her family. She is survived by her husband, her son John Havens-McColgan of North Haven, his wife Kendra and their daughter Lila. She is also survived by her sister Patricia Hopkins of Newington, her nephew Michael Hopkins of Newington and his daughter Dominique Kirk of Cape Cod, her nephew D.J. Hopkins of Unionville and his wife Tracey, her niece Anne Rampone, her husband Joe Rampone and their family, Ryan Rampone, Kailene Rampone and Matthew Rampone all of Berlin. She is survived by an uncle Leo Dungan of Manchester as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She owned many dogs, two a time, and supported many animal rescue and humane organizations. She was an avid fan of UCONN Women's Basketball. She enjoyed reading and vacationing on Cape Cod every summer. She was very excited about the birth of her first granddaughter, Lila on March 15, 2015, and was extremely happy to be a grandmother.
She began her career at UConn in 1974 as the first director of the Women’s Center in Storrs. She joined the faculty of the School of Social Work in 1976 and has held several significant administrative leadership positions throughout her thirty-eight years at the School. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and MSW Program Director.
In that position, she assisted thousands of students to successfully complete their Masters in Social Work degrees, served on the boards of directors and advisory committees of numerous community organizations including the DCF Training Academy, and was instrumental in securing teaching opportunities for doctoral students within the MSW program and served as a teaching mentor for doctoral students. In August 2013, Professor Havens stepped down from her position as MSW Program Director and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to return to the faculty in the Community Organization concentration, as a member of the Puerto Rican & Latino Studies Project, and Director of the Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction.
Professor Havens taught courses in community organization, macro foundation practice, women’s issues, law and social work, and social welfare policy. Her areas of specialization include women’s studies focusing on women and public policy, women in administration, women offenders, criminal justice, domestic violence, law and the family, and law and social work. Professor Havens’ service commitments have included Chair, Element Two Advisory Committee, Safe Schools/Healthy Student Federal Project – Hartford Public Schools; member of the Advisory Board, State of Connecticut, Department of Children & Families, Training Academy; Permanent Commission on the Status of Women Consultant - Sexual Harassment in High School's Research Project; past member of the Boards of Directors for Legal Services, Inc. and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; past Co-chair, Legal Committee Justice for Women Survivors of Abuse Project funded by Yale University Public Initiative Program; and past member of the Connecticut Women Offender's Committee.
Professor Havens has received many honors, including Educator of the Year in 2010 from the NASW CT Chapter, One Woman Makes a Difference by the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, and as a mentor for women in social work education by the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education. Dr. Julio Morales, a close friend of over 40 years, and an officiant at her wedding, will give a eulogy at the funeral service.
Friends may call from 4-8 pm Tuesday March 31, 2015 at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd, Wethersfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday April 1, 2015 at 10:00 am in St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church 285 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103. All attendees are asked to go directly to church. Parking is available in the parking lot across the street from the church. Burial will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT. Donations in Catherine’s name may be made to any of the charities listed above. To extend online condolences, for directions or more information, please visit Farleysullivan.com.

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